Mi casa es su casa (sp?) especially if there is risotto involved. Count on it!!!

Deleted because I got my days mixed up. It appears that missydarlin is not coming in at any time that we will be there.

If we are voting on this, I'd much prefer to take the 5pm flight & then spend 4 hrs in an Anchorage restaurant waiting for my 00:30 flight, instead of 2 hrs in Fairbanks, then a potentially delayed flight FAI-ANC, followed by pacing the ANC airport for 2 hrs trying to find something open.
Does anyone else have an opinion on this?

I agree with SeeYa. IIRC there are a couple of decent restaurants not too far from ANC (and there is always BOB W's soup kitchen).

Completely agree with you. I think timing wise we'll have plenty of time to get back from Chena, enjoy lunch, and visit the museum at UA-Fairbanks or possibly do a short tour and still catch the 5pm.

It's a pretty small airport and there's not too much to do as I recall while waiting for boarding (though if the weather is decent, you get a nice view of Mt. McKinley/Denali off in the distance).

Everyone okay with the 5pm flight? Or rather, everyone okay with being dumped at the airport in FAI in time for the 5pm flight (so around 3:45pm/4pm)?

Hi All - I've updated the DO info through the most recent posts I believe - please post/PM if I've missed something.

No repsonse yet from the Springhill Suites - I'll call them in the morning.

Can each of you who intends to come please let me know:

1. Will you be attending BOB W's pre-DO dinner Friday, March 13 in ANC?
2. Will you be attending the Farewell dinner Monday, March 16 in ANC?
3. Will you be attending the post-DO dinner Wednesday, March 18 in ANC?
4. Will the 5pm FAI-ANC flight work for you?
5. For those leaving Monday night/Tuesday morning, when do you need to be back to the airport by?
6. Will you be going to Chena?
7. Will you be participating in any of the activities while at Chena (e.g. aurora tour/sleddogs/etc.)?

I'm going to call the Turtle Club to see if we can get a reservation for lunch coming back from Chena. It occurs to me now that the last time I tried for a lunch reservation I was told they serve dinner only, so that might cause a change of venue for lunch Monday.

Pizza, wine & beer?
 

Wouldn't have time to cook, but there is always papa Murphy's on the way to my house.

A taxi to the airport is running about $30.00. Not bad if the trip is shared.

Isn't Papa Murphy's that place where they dish up something that you need to cook anyway?IIRC the Regal is not too far from the airport and the restaurant there was not bad (but that was a while ago).

Yeah, it is, but all you do is heat up the oven & drink wine while it cooks ;)

Doesn't sound all bad.

1. Yes
2. Yes (EDITED!)
3. No
4. Yes
5. N/A
6. Yes
7. Possibly--cost?

Back to business. Essentially we are up for almost everything that happens up until nearly midnight on Monday. The only exceptions will be for events requiring extended exposure to the weather.

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. No
4. Yes
5. Our flight is at 1230AM. I guess that 11-1130PM is plenty of time.
6. Yes
7. Aurora, definitely. Anything else that requires exposure to the elements will be evaluated at that time.

So... there should be time prior to the event... what six digit license plate should I order for the van? FLY AS... IFLYAS... ASMVPG... :D

I am a major procrastinator... as I still need to register for classes- (planning on taking online ones this semester) so I will hopefully be flexible... but with work and going to MIA the week of the 8-15th... will see what happens... Otherwise there is a chance I could help out somewhere with my van on the second ANC course...

No- in MIA :D
Should be in town...
Should be in town...
Whenever the BR opens :D - (well... N/A for me:D)
Probably not... return from MIA in ANC at 6:33 PM Sunday... so it would be a late arrival for me... and with tickets at $277 rt... ouch! (ERA is under $200... but no EQM's...:()... also if there was U space avail :D
Probably not... but if I made it up there... I'd soak in the pool!

I was about to suggest I could drive them back in the van... then I remembered last time :o

Can't get a super deal on 12-passenger vans in Fairbanks--our affiliated company there doesn't carry them.

We can do a 7-passenger minivan for $50 per day or an 8-passenger SUV for $75 per day. He offered me a 20% discount off of those rates...but that may only be if I'm there to sign for them, so I can't guarantee the discount until I know whether I'll be able to go. With the discount, total price for the van would be $96.80 for two days (including tax)--less than $14 per head with a full van. I couldn't beat that at any other agencies.

Even though the only active responses so far are from the six of us, I'd say I wouldn't mind being extravagant by going for the $75/day SUV. I imagine that would give us a bit more room, and I assume could handle the road a bit better than just a van?

We will ride with jackal in whatever conveyance he chooses. And what is this nonsense about "until I know whether I'll be able to go?" From what I understand, no FT event takes place in Alaska without him so he'll be there

Thanks for the vote of confidence. Tell it to my boss, though.

'Course, he's in Florida right now, so he can't really complain about taking time off.

But he will say that his two weeks is peanuts compared to my 3 months... ;)

Update: I am now available for the Monday night farewell dinner! :cool:

Anyone want to help me finance a bribe to get my coworker to trade days to ensure I can have the weekend (Friday-Sunday) off? :p

What's it going to take (bribe)?

We're still trying to figure out Monday night. Pizza & wine at Casa Bob or dinner somewhere closer to the airport.

Can you make it Wed. night for the Missydarlin risotto do?

Nope, working.

I hate to try to pull a long lunch hour, but maybe I can... :p

Risotto.............Risotto.............Missydarli n...... (who just might hurt you).............risotto

Has there been consensus yet on what hotel we're staying at in Fairbanks on Saturday the 14th? Did we decide on the Westmark?

Or instead, was there interest in me pursuing the route I mentioned earlier of checking with the folks who own the Minnie Street B&B? (I'll need a head count of everyone needing lodging in FAI vs. the locals who already have accommodations there as well as info on anyone sharing rooms. Check out the link I posted earlier for room and bed descriptions.)

And did anyone need me to check on discounts at hotels in ANC for before or after the FAI portion of the DO?

(Risotto update: I am now taking a class on Wednesday night. After I attend the first session this Wednesday, I'll know if I can skip it without adverse penalties.)

:confused: I somehow understood the SpringHill Suites to be the venue of choice, being in the center of Fairbanks instead of outside, so that is where I have my reservation. Should we come to a consensus on this?
Personally, I'm a bit more concerned about the Chena Hot Springs rez, as we have not heard if we are to forge ahead to book our rooms there at the full rate, or whether there is a discount available.
As for the ANC rez, I am set and believe monitor & franny are as well.
I figure the locals are also set. ;)

I'd be perfeclty happy with the SpringHill, though I'd be happier if it were closer to the price of the Westmark. Still, it's only $20 more than the Westmark, which is perfectly stomachable.

Y'all can take the SpringHill's shuttle (if they offer one) to the hotel while I (and maybe another person or two who wishes to be an additional driver) go and pick up the SUV. We still need a head count to see if we need a second vehicle...

I have a friend who works for the Alaska Railroad checking to see if she can get us a group discount, so don't jump the gun about booking your train tickets quite yet. (I haven't looked--are they refundable if you've already booked them?)

I haven't called Chena Hot Springs yet. I was waiting for vysean to come up with more info. Still looking for ideas on how to extend the Alaskan discount to the visitors.

Too late. :o
The Fur Rondy rate is $99. The cancel fees are as follows:
"8+ days before travel = 10% of booking value per person"

So unless the group discount brings the fare to < $89 it would not make sense for me to cancel. I think monitor & franny have also purchased the rail ticket.

I know; I should have spoken sooner. Oh well. That's not a bad rate. Will let you know if it's less than that (if it even works out).

I just called Chena Hot Springs and the Alaska resident rate of $119 on the Signature room (2 double beds) is only available 7 or fewer days before the stay. It looks like (from their website) that there are no cancellation fees, so at least for us Alaska residents, we might be able to book a regular room and then cancel that and rebook the Alaska resident rate with no penalty, but I'll have to look into that further.

Another option for people who know each other or aren't uncomfortable with it is the family suite, which has "2 Adjoining Rooms, one with 2 Double beds, one with 2 Single beds, Hairdryer, TV, one 1/2 Bath plus one 3/4 Bath w/ shower only." It goes for $249, which could save money if divided out between various parties.

Hi Guys - Very sorry for the post confusion - I thought I had posted this last week but I guess I took too long to write it and was logged out... :rolleyes:

So the SpringHill Suites is offering $94, which is higher than the best available rate and higher than both the AAA and Gov rates for those who qualify. So the group rate thing at the SpringHill is a non-starter.

I'd prefer that we all stay at the same hotel, and the SpringHill is very convenient to downtown (where we'll spend a few hours Sunday). But if some wish to stay elsewhere, I'm sure we can make it work.

As for the train rates, same deal - book now using the Fur Rondy special northbound (unless jackal's friend can do much better - but $99 is a very decent rate) and a one-way FAI-ANC on AS' website. Your choice of flight, but I would encourage everyone to select the AS190 5pm flight. Make sure to pick a window seat on the right-hand side of the plane for great views if the weather cooperates... :)

For Chena, I'm not sure what to do - we're not going to have ten rooms (are we?), so we can't get the group rate. So we either book the BAR (cancellable until 6pm day of arrival) or we wait until 7 days out and get one of our locals to book a block if available. I don't believe there are a lot of hotels exactly close to Chena, so the only other option is to extend the stay in Fairbanks by one night, and possibly drive outside of town for the aurora viewing (and then drive back to the SpringHill).

Thoughts on Chena?

I'll update the first posts with the info you've all provided on activities.

Since some of you have already booked trains/flights/hotels, can you let me know what you've got?

jackal - Will you be able to join us in FAI at all? I'll be flying in to ANC direct from Egypt (well as direct as can be expected for the other side of the world :D). Perhaps I can bring your co-worker back a souvenir in return for them swapping days with you so you can join us? Surely there's a way to buy them off... :p

Okay, so is everyone okay with this? Fur Rondy rate on train ANC-FAI (unless jackal comes up with something better?), book your own FAI-ANC (prefer AS190), Saturday night at SpringHill Suites Fairbanks, Sunday night??? BAR @ Chena and hope for availability within 7 days to cancel and re-book?

Angel - if you need help on getting up here, PM me - I may be able to help.

Finally, the Turtle Club is only open for dinner - from 6pm until 10pm. So that's not going to happen unless we somehow pull it off Saturday night (very unlikely). I'll start working on a plan B.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in a little less than two months!

Sean

I'm going to assume that I can join you in Fairbanks for now. My coworker is out for personal reasons now, but hopefully I can talk to him in the next few days. I'm doing him a favor by working today, actually, so hopefully I can bribe him to return it... ;)

Just emailed my friend at the ARR again to remind her--based on my understanding of the way it works, I doubt we're going to save a substantial amount (at most $25) off the Fur Rondy fare, so those of you who've already booked are not missing much. But if those who haven't booked want to wait a few more days to see what comes of this option, I'll be sure to let you know as soon as I hear something.

I'm still unclear on the actual head-count of people riding the train. The way vysean has the attendees list written, it's a bit ambiguous who is flying directly to FAI (or already living in FAI) versus flying to ANC or living in ANC and taking the train up. By my count, I see 7 people taking the train at this time. Can someone confirm this?

We also are now in at the Springhill in Fairbanks. The AAA rate that I saw is now at $80.

Sorry, but looks like I'm going to bail on this event...I think I was just a tentative anyway.

Got a deal on a MR, heading to MUC next month; don't think I can swing 2 big trips like this so close together. Hopefully I'll get to join everyone at some point though.

My friend has worked it out!

Anyone who wants a $75 (half off the normal $150 fare) Alaska Railroad fare for this event from Anchorage to Fairbanks, please PM me your first and last name, and I'll make your reservation. I will then PM you the reservation number and the contact information for the reservation agent who is helping us to arrange payment. Make sure you check your PMs within a day or so as you'll only have 3 days from the time I make your reservation to pay for it.

If you already have a reservation, PM me anyway and I'll contact the reservation agent and see what she can do about changing it without any sort of penalty.

The three New Yorkers are going to share one of the Family Suites at the Chena Hot Springs Resort. For the information of the group, there are two more of them left for that Sunday evening @$249+.

Thanks for the heads up.

BTW, BOB W and I are both confirmed at the SpringHill Suites now.

Updating to add that if anyone needs hotel accommodations in ANC, I *may* be able to get discounted rates ona fourth hotel: the new Embassy Suites.

That brings the list of hotels I have a connection with to four: the Homewood Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton, and Embassy Suites. Please PM me if you would like me to see about getting a discounted room.

Also, I've only received PMs from three participants about the train tickets! Are there really only going to be six people on the train?! I was hoping for a much larger group!

Just some teaser photos from the "scouting" DO in 2006 - these are courtesy of fellow FTer uva185 who did the FAI portion with me:

http://www.gpalcher.com/gallery/5919425_tSZtE#P-4-15

We're covering the same itinerary on this trip, and I hope we get lucky with the same weather as in 2006... :p

Wow...awesome shots! I certainly hope we get as lucky as you did on the aurora viewing, too!

I just updated my post #4 with a list of the discounts I can help with as well as the participants on the Alaska Railroad trip up to FAI. Please let me know if I can help and if I'm missing anyone!

Again, I'll also need to know who will be joining us in FAI for either around town or the trip out to Chena--if we have more than 8 participants, we'll need to reserve a second vehicle.

I have no idea how I keep missing these types of threads... So I might join you folks. I've wanted to take the train for a while, and see Fairbanks when you can spend more then 10 minutes outside without dying from exposure. :p

So count me as a possibility, assuming there is room for one (or two) more.